Hoboken Man Threatened NJ Transit Driver With Hammer For Passing Him: Police

HOBOKEN, NJ — A Hoboken man was arrested for waving a hammer at a bus driver who tried to pass his double-parked car, police said Tuesday.

Matthew Seriale, 43, was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, and drug charges last Wednesday, police said.

Police said that just before 4:30 p.m., officers Leroy Sherrill and Dylan Archilla responded to the 100 block of Clinton Street on reports of a person threatening a bus driver with a hammer.

The NJ Transit bus and the man were no longer on the scene, police said.

But an on-scene investigation determined that Matthew Seriale was double-parked on Clinton Street between First and Second streets when an NJ Transit bus tried to pass his vehicle.

According to police, Seriale retrieved a hammer from his car, walked toward the door of the bus, and waved the hammer at the driver, threatening to hit him in the head.

He was charged on a warrant with making terroristic threats, aggravated assault on a motorbus driver, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and certain persons not to possess a weapon, police said.

Police located and arrested Seriale. During a search, they found two small plastic bags tied off in a knot, containing a white rock-like substance suspected to be crack cocaine, police said.

Seriale was taken to Hoboken Police Headquarters where he was additionally charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, police said.

He was taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.